Women’s Bodies as a Battleground: Sexual Violence Against Women and Girls During the War in the Democratic Republic of Congo South Kivu (1996-2003) Réseau des Femmes pour un Développement Associatif Réseau des Femmes pour la Défense des Droits et la Paix International Alert 2005 Réseau des Femmes pour un Développement Associatif (RFDA), Réseau des Femmes pour la Défense des Droits et la Paix (RFDP) and International Alert The Réseau des Femmes pour un Développement Associatif and the Réseau des Femmes pour la Défense des Droits et la Paix are based in Uvira and Bukavu respectively in the Democratic Republic of Congo. Both organisations have developed programmes on the issue of sexual violence, which include lobbying activities and the provision of support to women and girls that have been victims of this violence. The two organisations are in the process of creating a database concerning violations of women’s human rights. RFDA has opened several women’s refuges in Uvira, while RFDP, which is a founder member of the Coalition Contre les Violences Sexuelles en RDC (Coalition Against Sexual Violence in the DRC) is involved in advocacy work targeting the United Nations, national institutions and local administrative authorities in order to ensure the protection of vulnerable civilian populations in South Kivu, and in par- ticular the protection of women and their families. International Alert, a non-governmental organisation based in London, UK, works for the prevention and resolution of conflicts. It has been working in the Great Lakes region since 1995 and has established a programme there supporting women’s organisations dedicated to building peace and promoting women’s human rights. Funders We would like to thank the Department for International Development (DFID)’s Africa Great Lakes and Horn Department, Comic Relief and CORDAID for the financial support that they have given towards this report. Women’s Bodies as a Battleground: Sexual Violence Against Women and Girls During the War in the Democratic Republic of Congo South Kivu (1996-2003) “They have destroyed our bodies and stripped us of our possessions.” (M.C., KASHEKE, KALEHE, SOUTH KIVU, DRC) “The use of rape in conflict reflects the inequalities women face in their everyday lives in peacetime. Until governments live up to their obligations to ensure equality, and end discrimination against women, rape will continue to be a favourite weapon of the aggressor.” (AMNESTY INTERNATIONAL: HUMAN RIGHTS ARE WOMEN’S RIGHTS, LONDON, 1995) 2• Women’s Bodies as a Battleground: Sexual Violence Against Women and Girls During the War in the Democratic Republic of Congo This study was conducted and written by Field data was collected by a team a team of consultants comprising: comprising: Marie Claire Omanyondo Ohambe Women from the Réseau des Femmes pour un Associate Professor Développement Associatif (RFDA), who carried Institut Supérieur des Techniques Médicales out research in Uvira, the Ruzizi Plain, Mboko, Section Sciences Infirmières Baraka, Fizi and Kazimia Kinshasa 1. Lucie Shondinda Democratic Republic of Congo 2. Gégé Katana 3. Elise Nyandinda Jean Berckmans Bahananga Muhigwa 4. Jeanne Lukesa Professor 5. Judith Eca Département de Biologie 6. Brigitte Kasongo Centre Universitaire de Bukavu 7. Marie-Jeanne Zagabe Bukavu Democratic Republic of Congo Women from the Réseau des Femmes pour la Défense des Droits et la Paix (RFDP) who carried Barnabé Mulyumba Wa Mamba out research in Bukavu, Walungu, Kabare, Kalehe Director and Shabunda Institut Supérieur Pédagogique 1. Agathe Rwankuba Bukavu 2. Noelle Ndagano Democratic Republic of Congo 3. Rita Likirye 4. Venantie Bisimwa Editing was by: 5. Laititia Shindano 6. Jeanne Nkere Martine René Galloy International Consultant The research was coordinated by: Specialist in Gender, Conflict and Electoral Processes Annie Bukaraba Coordinator Ndeye Sow International Alert’s Women’s Peace Programme, Senior Adviser Eastern Democratic Republic of Congo International Alert Catherine Hall Communications Officer International Alert © Réseau des Femmes pour un Développement Associatif (RFDA), Réseau des Femmes pour la Défense des Droits et la Paix (RFDP), International Alert, 2004. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system or transmitted in any form or by any means; electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise, without full attribution. Design: D. R. Ink, [email protected] 3• Women’s Bodies as a Battleground: Sexual Violence Against Women and Girls During the War in the Democratic Republic of Congo 4• Women’s Bodies as a Battleground: Sexual Violence Against Women and Girls During the War in the Democratic Republic of Congo CONTENTS Figures, tables and graphs 6 Abbreviations and acronyms 7 Preface 8 Introduction 11 CHAPTER 1: Methodology 13 1.1 Methodological approach 13 1.2 Research questions 13 1.3 Research objectives 13 1.3.1 Overall objective 13 1.3.2 Specific objectives 13 1.4 The sample 14 1.4.1 Selecting the sites for the research 14 1.4.2 Selecting the interviewees 14 1.4.2.1 Rape victims 14 1.4.2.2 The military and Maï Maï rebels 15 1.5 Data-collection techniques 15 1.6 Ethical considerations 15 1.7 System for analysing the data 15 CHAPTER 2: The Socio-Economic, Political and Military Context of South-Kivu 16 2.1 South Kivu: an area of contrasts 16 2.2 Administrative divisions of South Kivu 16 2.3 The socio-economic consequences of the war in South Kivu 17 2.4 The war in the areas selected for the survey 18 2.4.1 An extremely militarised area 18 2.4.1.1 The army of the Rassemblement Congolais pour la Démocratie (RCD-Goma) 19 2.4.1.2 The Rwandan Patriotic Army (RPA) 19 2.4.1.3 The Forces Armées Burundaises (FAB) 20 2.4.1.4 The Maï Maï militias 20 2.4.1.5 The Burundian Hutu militias – Forces de Défense de la Démocratie (FDD) and Forces Nationales de Libération (FNL) 21 2.4.1.6 The Banyamulenge militias 21 2.4.1.7 The Rwandan Hutu militias 21 2.5 Some of the areas surveyed 22 2.5.1 Uvira and Fizi Territories 22 2.5.2 Moyens Plateaux 22 2.5.3 Shabunda Territory 23 2.5.4 Kalehe Territory 23 CHAPTER 3 : The Position of Women and Socio-Cultural Perceptions of Sexual Violence in South Kivu 25 3.1 The position of women 25 3.1.1 The feminisation of poverty 25 3.1.2 Customs, practices and legislation that discriminate against women 26 3.1.3 The lack of policies and mechanisms for the advancement of women 27 3.2 The significance of rape in the traditional context of South Kivu 27 3.3 In Burundi and Rwanda, acts of sexual violence are everyday events 28 5• Women’s Bodies as a Battleground: Sexual Violence Against Women and Girls During the War in the Democratic Republic of Congo CHAPTER 4: Socio-Demographic Characteristics of Interviewees 29 4.1 Age 29 4.2 Marital status 30 4.3 Level of education 30 4.4 Occupation 31 4.5 Religious affiliation 32 4.6 Ethnic origin 32 CHAPTER 5: Types of Rape and Sexual Violence 33 5.1 Types of rape 33 5.1.1 Individual rape 33 5.1.2 Gang rape 33 5.1.3 Forced rape between victims 34 5.1.4 Rape involving the insertion of objects into the victim’s genitals 34 5.2 Planned rape 35 5.3 Identity of the attackers 36 CHAPTER 6: The Consequences of Sexual Violence for Women and their Communities in South Kivu 39 6.1 The consequences of sexual violence for the health of women in South Kivu 39 6.1.1 Physical and reproductive health 39 6.1.2 Psycho-social consequences of the rapes 42 6.1.3 Socio-economic consequences of the rapes 44 CHAPTER 7: The Motives of Soldiers and Militiamen Involved in Rape and Sexual Violence 45 7.1 The views and perceptions of the victims and of those members of armed groups who were interviewed 45 7.1.1 The lack of organisational structure, training and discipline amongst the fighting forces 45 7.1.2 Rape as a means of survival for armed forces 46 7.1.3 Legitimising rape – a ‘prize’ for bravery and the ideal ‘drug’ to boost the troops’ morale 47 7.1.4 Using women’s bodies to humiliate the enemy 48 7.1.5 Rape as a deliberate method of exterminating the Congolese people 48 7.1.6 Ritualising rape in order to either gain or neutralise magical powers 49 7.1.7 Rape as a tool for political repression against human rights campaigners 50 7.1.8 Score-settling between individuals or between communities 50 7.1.9 Widespread banditry in the region – a fertile ground for rape and sexual violence 50 Conclusion 51 CHAPTER 8: Institutional Responses to Sexual Violence Against Women 52 8.1 The powerlessness of local customary and administrative authorities 52 8.2 Congolese law and the act of rape: the lack of a gender perspective 52 8.3 International legal instruments ratified by the DRC 54 CHAPTER 9: Civil Society and Support for the Victims of Rape and Sexual Violence 56 9.1 Organisations working to care for victims: “Unity is strength” 56 9.2 Difficulties encountered by civil society 59 CONCLUSION 60 RECOMMENDATIONS 63 BIBLIOGRAPHY 65 APPENDIXES 68 6• Women’s Bodies as a Battleground: Sexual Violence Against Women and Girls During the War in the Democratic Republic of Congo TABLES, FIGURES AND GRAPHS 1. TABLES 1: Administrative divisions and basic economic activities of South Kivu 17 2: Identified by the organisation ‘IFDAP: Initiatives des Femmes pour le Développement, l’Auto Promotion et la Paix/Women’s initiatives for development, self-promotion and peace’ 22 3: Distribution of interviewees by age 29 4: Distribution of interviewees by marital status 30 5: Distribution of interviewees by level of education 30 6: Distribution of interviewees by occupation 31 7: Distribution of interviewees by religion 32 8: Distribution of interviewees by ethnic group 32 9: Distribution of interviewees by number of attackers 33 10: Distribution of interviewees by place where attack occurred 36 11: Distribution of attackers by origins, according to opinions of interviewees 37 12: Health problems resulting from the rapes 39 2.